This man-made hybrid is a must for any community tank. On top of being relatively peaceful, these Cichlids display a myriad of beautiful colors. The most prevalent colors being red, orange, and light pink other shades of whites and light blues will accent their fins.”It is a basic characteristic of animal behaviour that animals will approach desirable things and retreat from undesirable ones,” he said, noting that touch is “a powerful de-stressor for animals”. The 1m-long fish, housed at the Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium, often swims up to greet its keeper, 35-year-old Hitoshi Okamoto, The Japan Times said in a report on Wednesday (Dec 21). In a video posted to YouTube by ANN News on Dec 9, the grouper is shown lifting its mouth out of the water to have its mouth petted and teeth brushed by its keeper.Groupers are not the only fish that enjoy being petted, it seems. According to videos on YouTube, other species of fish that appear to like the interaction include koi, cichlid and discus fish.
A grouper in an aquarium in Nagoya, the capital city of Japan’s Aichi Prefecture, has grown so close to its keeper that it bobs to the surface to be touched and have its teeth brushed.
*****Please review our Shipping and Handling FAQ prior to placing your order. It contains important information about order fulfillment time, shipping speed, and other pertinent details.*****Remarks: This Dragon Blood, or Fire Fish, is a hybrid, but its origins are unknown. They show a remarkable variation in color and pattern, and we will do our best to select the color you request using the options below. This does not mean that the color won’t change as it ages – it often will. Please note that males under 4″ may not show much color, but they typically develop a tremendous amount once they settle into their permanent tank. Some fish will have spots as well, which likely came about from breeding at some point. We cannot guarantee the density of spots, though the fish labeled as “Black Spots” will have a higher density. Some normal males or females will contain spots.
Photo: A mature male Red Dragon Blood Peacock Cichlid. A while back I set up a cross between a Red Dragon Blood Cichlid male and some Protomelas taeniolatus ‘Sunshine’ females. That’s him in the photo above. By the way, the grid behind him is in inches, showing how large he is. The Sunshine … Read MoreFiled Under: Breeding, Care, Farm Fauna, Fish, Fish Photography, Genetic Tagged With: breeding, cichlid spawning, cichlids, dragon blood peacock, genetics, ob pattern, peacock cichlid, tropical fish
Peacocks are omnivores – in the wild they feed on small crustaceans, algae and cichlid fry. In the aquarium provide them a high quality cichlid pellet or flake (this should contain an adequate amount of yellow carotene pigments.) Most of their natural diet is meat based so ensure you also feed peacocks some frozen brine shrimp or frozen bloodworms periodically.
These fish are very popular among aquarium keepers and are always in high demand. Dragon blood males develop deep colors once they mature with no 2 exactly the same. The males can vary in color from yellow to rich red.Aulonocara sp. Firefish are carnivores and should be fed a diet that contains a good amount of protein. Plankton based flakes mixed with commercially prepared cichlid pellets and the occasional feeding of live (or frozen) brine shrimp or blood worms are good choices for their diet. Such foods will help bring out the bright colors in these fish.The Dragon Blood Peacock cichlid is fairly mild mannered like many other peacock cichlids. Dominant males may show increased levels of aggression towards other male Aulonocara species. Breeding males will also show increased levels of aggression. Some compatible cichlids are the Red Shoulder Peacock Cichlid, the Lemon Jake Peacock and the Azureus cichlid.
Do cichlids recognize you?
Many cichlids are able to recognize certain people and will actively show excitement when their favorite individual enters the room (usually the one who feeds them). Some have been known to even let their owners “pet” them!
Although not native to the hard alkaline waters of Lake Malawi, Dragon Blood Peacocks are like other peacock cichlids and prefer very hard water. A home aquarium should have warm hard water with a temperature between 78 – 82°F and a pH between 7.8 – 8.6. Additives like Cichlid Lake Salt and Malawi/Victoria Buffer will condition the aquarium water for African cichlids. The substrate should be sand or fine gravel and there should be plenty of rocks to create caves and passageways for the fish to claim territories or seek protection.
How big does a dragon blood cichlid get?
DRAGON BLOOD PEACOCK CICHLIDS – 4-5CM The males can vary in color from yellow to rich red. Peacocks are omnivores – in the wild they feed on small crustaceans, algae and cichlid fry.
The Aulonocara sp. Firefish, or Dragon Blood Peacock cichlid is not native to the African rift lakes, but is a hybrid fish, like the OB Peacock cichlid. Nobody really knows where this fish was originally bred but because it is a hybrid, they can be found in various shades of orange, pink and red. The most common Aulonocara Firefish displays a bright pink/red color over most of its body with light blue to almost white colors on its head and edges of its dorsal, pelvic, and anal fins, and tail.
The Firefish Peacock cichlid is sexually dimorphic, which means that the male displays bright colors while the female is much more plain. The male Firefish displays colors that can be bright orange, pink or red and the female is usually close to white in color with a hint of very light pink behind its gills.We guarantee live arrival and good health on all fish we ship. We lose less than one percent of the fish we ship but problems do occasionally occur. If you have a problem, please photograph everything you think is relevant and notify us by e-mail immediately. It is our choice whether to replace or refund any live fish we have shipped to you. (In most cases, we replace any problem fish) We will fix any reasonable problem to everyone’s satisfaction.
As always, if we make a mistake and you have bought a listing for a guaranteed male and it turns out to be a female, then we will replace it at our cost no matter how long it has been.
When we list a size, it is the minimum size that is currently being offered. It can and in many cases will be a little bigger than what is listed. All measurements are from tip of snout to the tip of tail fin. Many of our fish look far different as juveniles than they do as adults. Also, in most cases males are much more colorful than females. We do our best to provide pictures of both an adult male in breeding color and a picture of juveniles. We are asked occasionally how we can sex fish at juvenile size. Sexing fish at juvenile sizes is easy if you have the experience and know what to look for. The real trick is to make sure you have 20-30 of the same fish in the tank. Then you can usually pick out several that are showing dominance in the tank. When in doubt, we do vent them with a high end, video magnifier.
We ship via USPS Priority and Fedex Monday through Thursday. Priority Mail is $19.99 up to $124.99. Orders over $125.00 can be shipped for FREE via 1-3 day Priority Mail.If you buy a guaranteed male, we fully guarantee it. In the unlikely event your guaranteed male turns out to be a female, we will replace it at our cost.
All fish will be professionally bagged with oxygen, an ammonia remover, and a mild sedative in a heavy duty, professional bag made specifically for shipping fish. We insulate with Styrofoam boxes and use heat packs when weather conditions require it. We do everything possible to ensure your fish arrive in good condition.
If you buy a four fish colony, you will get one Guaranteed Male and we will do our best to get you three females. If you buy a six fish colony, you will get one to two males and the rest will be females. I have been breeding and dealing with aquarium fish on a wholesale level since 1990. I have worked for many the largest aquarium fish suppliers in the country doing everything from packing fish to general manager. I have personally hand collected fish in Central America for the aquarium fish hobby. I have owned my business for many years and raised a wide variety of fish in the last three decades. My current facility consists of two buildings and four greenhouses with 680 aquariums and over 200 vats. Total under cover is approximately14,500 square feet. Over the years I have handled millions of Aquarium fish, invertebrates, and amphibians and packed hundreds of thousands of bags. Aquarium fish are my life and my passion. So, enough suspense! The matings resulted in…drum roll…46% gold bodied hybrid offspring. That’s close enough to 50% to mean the male was heterozygous and the gold bodied gene is dominant. Below are photos of young, about four month old males, the first a gold bodied male and the second a grey bodied male.After seeing these hybrids, I’m thinking of setting this Dragon Blood male up with some female Protomelas fenestratus. That species grows much larger than P. taeniolatus. I wonder if I can grow some really giant Dragon Bloods. Don’t tell Susie, my wife and business manager, about this. She takes a dim view of my experiments. She expects each tank to generate revenues and profits. In fact, you should see the Excel spreadsheets and Quick-Books reports she uses to determine which strains of fish pay their way.To recap, my hypothesis was that the gold background color of the Dragon Blood Peacock is the result of a dominant gene (more properly “allele”, but I’ll stick with the popular usage of “gene”). If I was right, I expected one of two results from mating the male Dragon Blood to the P. taeniolatus females. One, all the offspring would be gold bodied because the male was 1) homozygous for the gold body color, meaning the male carried two copies of the gene for gold body color and 2) the gold body color resulted from a dominant gene. Second, about half the offspring would be gold bodied and the other half grey bodied because the male was 1) heterozygous, meaning he carried one copy of the gold gene and one for the normal grey color and 2) the gold body color was a dominant gene.
What is the temperament of a dragon blood fish?
Temperament: Mild to moderately aggressive. Compatibility: Keep with other Peacocks and Haps of a similar size. Avoid keeping with Mbunas. Suggested Diet: SRC Hi-Intensity color food to promote color development.
It will be interesting to watch these two hybrids mature. At this point, the grey fish looks much like a Protomelas taeniolatus of the same age. The gold male has an interesting orange/sky-blue checkered pattern.
A while back I set up a cross between a Red Dragon Blood Cichlid male and some Protomelas taeniolatus ‘Sunshine’ females. That’s him in the photo above. By the way, the grid behind him is in inches, showing how large he is. The Sunshine females were from a line of P. taeniolatus (Red Empress) that I started working on in November 2010. Since that time, I have selected these fish for gold-orange males (see photos of a male and a female from this strain below).
The purpose of this cross was to test my hypothesis about the genetics of the Dragon Blood color pattern. For some background on this fish and the development of my hypothesis, you might want to read the following blogs:It’s worth noting that I originally set aside the Dragon Blood male because he was sky-blue instead of his current color. As he matured he turned orange. That was a disappointment since I am working on developing a strain of Skyblue Dragon Bloods.
However, they are also active hunters that will also actively prey on small prey items that it detects moving about the substrate or if it spots movement in the sand. Like most species of African Cichlid the Dragon Blood Peacock Cichlid lives in small groups of a single male and a small group of females. They will lay claim to a small piece of territory that provides them adequate feeding opportunities. Once they have established their territory they will aggressively defend it from similarly sized and patterned fish species or anything that they determine to be competition for food.
The Dragon Blood Peacock Cichlid is a hybrid from the Aulonocara Species (Peacock Cichlid) from Lake Malawi. Peacock Cichlids are generally found living where the rocky shoreline transitions into the more sandy substrate of the lake bottom. Dragon Blood Peacock Cichlids feed by sifting through the sand substrate by pushing the sand through their gills and extracting small invertebrates hidden in the sand.
Will dragon fish eat other fish?
Dragonfish can be kept with a variety of other fish, though small fish will sometimes become prey to the Dragonfish. Also, as noted above, Dragonfish do not do well with particularly aggressive fish.
Dragon Blood Peacock Cichlids make a good addition to most any community Lake Malawi aquarium, as they will generally get along with most other Lake Malawi species. However, they are peaceful enough to keep with similar species providing the aquarium is large enough to provide multiple territories for each group of fish.The Dragon Blood Peacock Cichlid is a hybrid from the Aulonocara Species (Peacock Cichlid) from Lake Malawi. Peacock Cichlids are generally found living where the rocky shoreline transitions into the more sandy substrate of the lake bottom. Dragon Blood Peacock Cichlids feed by sifting through sand substrate by pushing the sand through their gills and extracting small invertebrates hidden in the sand.
As with all fish, Dragonfish can be kept with fish with similar temperaments and care requirements. Your best bets for companionship with your Dragonfish will be medium sized brackish water fish.Remember, Dragonfish are beautiful living creatures. It is the responsibility of the pet owner to care for their pet and provide a healthy environment. So give your Dragonfish space, clean, warm, brackish water, plenty of hiding places, and high-quality, highly varied foods and he should be a good companion for a long time.
Your Dragonfish needs good filtration to keep the water from becoming toxic, and you need to keep the filter(s) well maintained. When selecting a filter, remember to make sure that the filter provides sufficient filtration for a tank with the large capacity that your Dragonfish requires. Many people use multiple smaller filters to maintain a large tank like this. Using several aquarium filters allows you to stager your filter maintenance so that you are not changing all of your filter media at once and risking cycling your fish tank again.Your fish should be able to consume all the food you offer within two minutes of feeding. If there is food in the tank after this time has elapsed, this contributes to poor water quality and make your Dragonfish more susceptible to disease.
Dragonfish are typically very timid fish, so providing them with plenty of caves and plants to hide in will definitely improve their health and boost their appetite. Also keep in mind that Dragonfish are very fickle about feeding – especially just after transport and shipping.
In the wild, most Dragonfish eat primarily aquatic invertebrates, insects, and insect larvae, and opportunistically scavenge old carcasses, so you are best off to try to duplicate this in the aquarium environment. Provide a wide variety of processed, frozen, and freeze dried foods.You only need to feed your Dragonfish once a day. If you feed more than once a day you increase the waste your fish are producing and also increase the risk of overfeeding, so it becomes more important that you are performing your weekly 10-15% water changes and all necessary filter maintenance.
Dragonfish, also called Dragon Gobies, Eel Gobies, Peruvian Gobies, or Violet Gobies (among many common names), are a brackish water to fresh water fish from South and Central America.
To keep a Dragonfish healthy, remember to provide them with plenty of clean, warm water, and remember that they will do better in brackish conditions than in fresh water.Dragonfish can be kept with a variety of other fish, though small fish will sometimes become prey to the Dragonfish. Also, as noted above, Dragonfish do not do well with particularly aggressive fish.
What is a dragon blood cichlid?
The Dragon Blood Peacock Cichlid is a hybrid from the Aulonocara Species (Peacock Cichlid) from Lake Malawi. Peacock Cichlids are generally found living where the rocky shoreline transitions into the more sandy substrate of the lake bottom. Cached
Your Dragonfish aquarium should provide at least 25 gallons (95 liters) of space per Dragonfish, plus any space needed for any other fish. A minimum fish tank size of 50 gallons (190 liters) is recommended if you are keeping a Dragonfish. Also, a Dragonfish should be kept in a fish tank with a length of at least 4 feet (1.2 meters).
These fish are frequently very timid eaters, but once you get them established in your tank and used to your feeding regimen, they can be a fascinating fish for years.
Dragonfish are primarily carnivorous (meat eating) scavengers, so provide him with a high protein diet. Many high quality processed fish foods are available on the market today, and most frozen fish foods are also appropriate. Dragonfish can be sensitive fish, so maintenance is vital. Perform your weekly 10-15% water changes, so that your Dragonfish always has clean water and any waste or uneaten food that is not processed by the filter is removed. It is likely that your Dragonfish will not eat the first day or two after being brought home, however, if this persists, try training them onto your feeding schedule with frozen bloodworms or brine shrimp. Once they are eating well, wean them onto your more usual and more varied fare.
Keep in mind that these fish do not have good eyesight, and are easily bullied by other fish. If you have a fish in your tank that is an aggressive eater, it is very likely that they will prevent the Dragonfish from eating. If this happens, you will probably be best off to separate your Dragonfish from the rest of the fish in the tank with a divider or partition until the Dragonfish is used to the food and feeding schedule and is eating well. If the bullying that prevented the Dragonfish from eating to begin with continues after this acclimation period, you should probably consider separating the Dragonfish or the bullies permanently.
Gobioides broussonnetii, the true Dragonfish, can reach lengths over 2 feet (60cm), though other members of this group are usually closer to half that size.Your Dragonfish’s temperature should be about 80° Fahrenheit (about 26.5° Celsius), and ideally should remain between 77° and 83,° F (25° and 28° C) so you need a heater and a thermometer. Excessive temperature fluctuations, or prolonged time at especially warm or especially cold temperatures and weaken the fish, resulting in loss of appetite and a weakened immune system. An impaired immune system makes your Dragonfish more susceptible to many diseases, from easily treatable Ick to more difficult diseases such as fin and body rot.
What is the rarest cichlid?
Mangarahara cichlid The rarest fish in the world The natural range of the Mangarahara cichlid is restricted to the Mangarahara River and a few other tributaries of the Sofia River in the northwest of the island of Madagascar.
With such a wide variety of colors, sizes, and temperaments in the cichlid family, there is bound to be a perfect match for your specific needs! Let The Ocean Floor walk with you as you navigate the world of cichlids and help make your journey easy! While not as intensive as many other pets, caring for cichlids is still a major commitment. It is important to decide ahead of time which type of cichlid aquarium you wish to keep and then learn what you can about its requirements before introducing any fish. When undergone with the proper care, education, and preparation, keeping cichlids can be an extremely fulfilling hobby. They are beautiful, entertaining to watch, and can develop a unique bond with their owners. Though some cichlids are able to be kept in a Semi-Aggressive Community Aquarium, most of the time cichlids are very aggressive and a specific cichlid aquarium must be kept to avoid tankmates becoming lunch for the new fish. If you are wishing to build a community tank that includes cichlids, you will need to carefully select your cichlid breeds and tankmates. Also bear in mind that temperaments may vary between cichlids of the same species; just like people, fish have their own unique personalities!Cichlids are fish from the Cichlidae family, comprising between 2,000 and 3,000 species of fish. They come in a broad variety of colors and shapes, and their sizes can range from about an inch to nearly three feet long! Cichlids are also close relatives of certain saltwater or marine fish such as Damselfish, Wrasses, and Groupers because they share certain distinguishing characteristics.Cichlid varieties can be found in North America, South America, Africa, and Asia, as well as a few islands. Madagascar is an excellent example, containing multiple unique indigenous species including a few cichlids that are exclusive to the island.
Do cichlids like to be petted?
Groupers are not the only fish that enjoy being petted, it seems. According to videos on YouTube, other species of fish that appear to like the interaction include koi, cichlid and discus fish.
Cichlid owners are happy to keep one or two cichlids in an aquarium because of the interaction they experience with these pets. They are often treated as good as or better than their dog or cat!The Cichlids you will find at The Ocean Floor are Tropical or warmer in temperature. In relation to Aquarium Suitable Species, Cichlids are primarily classified into the following groups:
This is a special coloration of the blue acara. Their coloring will make a stunning addition to any aquarium. Males have longer dorsal fins than females. On average, Electric Blue Acara live between 8-10 years in captivity and grow to between 6” and 7” in length. They are among the more peaceful of the cichlid family and can be kept with peaceful fish of similar size. Electric Blue Acara have a tendency to dig, so be sure to include plenty of substrate in your tank!
Many people start keeping cichlids because they want colorful fish and feel intimidated by saltwater. Unfortunately, this reasoning often leads to frustration on the part of the fish keeper because the fish “just keep fighting and won’t get along”. This is usually because the aquarium owner did not fully understand the nature of their fish since they viewed them as an easier substitute for what they truly wanted and was not prepared for the reality of cichlid ownership.Cichlids comprise the largest family of freshwater fish and their diverse representation at The Ocean Floor is no exception. A little more than half of our selling tanks and most of our display aquariums are allocated to cichlids. Dive into the wide world of cichlid keeping with us!North America is home to several Coldwater Cichlid Species including the Texas Cichlid, Bass, Sunfish, Perch, and Bluegill. Most North American Species are unsuitable to be kept in an Aquarium and/or are illegal to keep in the United States.
Are dragon blood cichlids aggressive?
Temperament: Mildly aggressive, displays conspecific aggression. Compatibility: Keep with other Peacocks and Haps of a similar size.
A final key to success is to provide plenty of hiding spaces and decorations. This will help break up sightlines and give tankmates a place to hide if your cichlid is ever feeling grumpy.
Managuense Cichlids are also referred to as Jaguar and Aztec Cichlids. They are naturally found in the waters of Costa Rica, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Managuense Cichlids in captivity will grow to about 14-16” and will need a spacious tank. With proper care, they can live for a whopping 15 years! They will prey on smaller fish but are omnivorous. Peacock Difficulty Level: Easy
The Ocean Floor is a great place to assist you in starting your cichlid tank because of our extensive selection and ordering capabilities and our team of Cichlid Enthusiasts. Alternatively, if saltwater fish are truly what you are after, our Saltwater Specialists are more than happy to assist you in getting started with a saltwater tank.Since cichlids originate from wide and varied climate areas, it is important to learn and follow the specific environmental needs of the cichlid(s) you are considering. Avoid mixing cichlids of differing requirements.
Convict Cichlids are native to the warm rivers of South America. These striking cichlids are named after the black and white stripes on their sides. They may also be called the Zebra Cichlid. Convict Cichlids are very hardy and ideal for beginner hobbyists. Keep in mind they are highly territorial and aggressive to invaders and would therefore not be a good match for those wishing to build a community tank. They have a lifespan of up to eight years and can grow up to 6” in length.Most Cichlids breed pretty readily and are easy to care for their fry (baby fish). Cichlids are egg-layers, but there are quite different breeding habits between cichlids. If you are intending to breed your cichlids, we highly recommend speaking to one of the specialists at The Ocean Floor to learn the specific needs of the species.Many cichlids are able to recognize certain people and will actively show excitement when their favorite individual enters the room (usually the one who feeds them). Some have been known to even let their owners “pet” them!Your cichlids will need to be housed in an appropriately sized tank. It is always better to err on the side of too large of a tank than too small. Tank overcrowding can result in aggression.
Diet Requirements: Dragons blood peacocks are omnivorous. Various high quality vegetable and protein based flake foods and sinking pellet foods are acceptable. Frozen foods such as spirulina or standard brine shrimp, daphnia, and other mixed freshwater preparations should also be offered. Variety is the spice of life in order to maintain color, immune function and longevity of your fish.
The Dragons Blood Peacock is a hybrid Aulonocara of unknown origin and does not occur in the wild. Aulonocara, or Peacock cichlids, are endemic throughout Lake Malawi in intermediate zones where rocky areas give way to open expanses of sand with scattered rocks. There is a lot of variation in both color intensity and patterning of Dragons blood peacocks. Generally speaking, males can be red, orange or yellowish with a lot of red spots in the fins, but the density of spots in the body will be variable. Some male individuals may also have a blue tinge to their fins. Females, which are not as frequently available, will usually have an orange-pink body and spots only on the anal fin. Dragons blood peacocks are quite active and would do best in a tank that provides such space for ample exploration and movement. It is best to keep a male Dragons blood peacock solitary or with several females. An adult Dragons blood peacock can reach a size of approximately 6″.
General Description: The Dragons Blood Peacock is a hybrid Aulonocara of unknown origin and does not occur in the wild. Aulonocara, or Peacock cichlids, are endemic throughout Lake Malawi in intermediate zones where rocky areas give way to open expanses of sand with scattered rocks. There is a lot of variation in both color intensity and patterning of Dragons blood peacocks. Generally speaking, males can be red, orange or yellowish with a lot of red spots in the fins, but the density of spots in the body will be variable. Some male individuals may also have a blue tinge to their fins. Females, which are not as frequently available, will usually have an orange-pink body and spots only on the anal fin. Dragons blood peacocks are quite active and would do best in a tank that provides such space for ample exploration and movement. It is best to keep a male Dragons blood peacock solitary or with several females. An adult Dragons blood peacock can reach a size of approximately 6″.
Although peacock cichlids and mbunas look very different, they have common ancestors. And the amazing thing is: they can even be crossed! Of course, such crossbreeding is done artificially, i.e. eggs and sperm are mixed and incubated “in the test tube”. Thereby the so called Fire Fish, Dragon Blood, O- and OB-Aulonocara were created, of which nowadays there are countless lines and at least as many imaginative names. All in all, hardly any animal is identical to the other, as it is to be expected due to the hybrid character. In feeding behavior and general body shape these animals resemble the Aulonocara species.
Aulonocara are a specious and colorful genus of Malawi cichlids; because of their brightly colored dress they are called “peacocks” in English. They are small-animal eaters that selectively ingest small chunks of food.Another group of cichlids in Lake Malawi feeds on the algae and the microorganisms (= Aufwuchs) they contain, which grow on rocks. These cichlids are called “mbuna” after a name given to this group of fish by local fishermen. Among the Mbunas there is a phenomenon that is not yet well explained: the so-called O- and OB- forms. O stands for “orange”, OB for “orange blotch”. These extremely deviant colored animals can occur in several species and are not necessarily bound to the sex.
